There is no state more supportive of people who travel by bike than Washington, according to one of the nation’s largest bicycle advocacy organizations.
Washington leads U.S. states in fostering bicycling and systems that support it, earning it the top spot in the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly State rankings for 2024. The competitive ranking program evaluates states based on their commitments to bicycling across five categories: infrastructure and funding, education and encouragement, traffic laws and practices, policies and programs, and evaluation and planning.
“Making it easier for more people to cycle safely to work, school or for fun has been an important part of our transportation planning,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “Many of these efforts are supported by our Climate Commitment Act, which is paving the way for more riders and also educating them so they can ride confidently. I appreciate the work of our bicycle-friendly communities, businesses and universities that have all contributed to building active, healthy transportation options.”
“It’s great to once again lead the nation in recognizing that bicycling is an important part of a multimodal transportation system,” said Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar. “We’re committed to providing transportation choices for all users of the system – including people who bike, walk and roll. We have more work to do, but this ranking affirms that we’re on the right path.”
Washington received top ranks due to the state’s comprehensive attention to the issues faced by cyclists as well as its longstanding and continued leadership that moves bicycling forward, according to the League. The advocacy group highlighted Washington’s Statewide School-Based Bicycle Education Program as a national model for what state government, local agencies and bicycle-education organizations can accomplish together. It also pointed to the state’s planning work that provides safe bicycle infrastructure and design guidance and training that supports those plans.
Supported by the Cascade Bicycle Club, tThe Edmonds School District has been leading the way for many years with its Let’s Go Edmonds bicycle curriculum.
Washington has an extensive history of support for cyclists. The state has taken the program’s top spot for all but one year since it launched in 2008. Washington was rated third in the nation in 2022, ending the state’s 14-year run at the top the rankings. Rankings were not awarded in 2023.
I do not think that Washington State is the best one for biking. Only if you count the Western side it may be. The whole state has been split in two by the plight of the Eastern Washington areas. No bike paths and the total lack of service and attention to those people who have a bike in Eastern Washington they are stuck in traffic and rotten road ways. There is no comparison between Western and Eastern Washington. Our taxes are given to the Western areas with no interest in Eastern Washington. It makes me sick and sorry that I didn’t know what the problem was until I moved to Eastern Washington.
You mean that Washington also out performed Nebraska as a bicycle friendly state? Those Corn Huskers better get with the fossil free/ cardio-friendly program.
Charles, my perception is that we do live in a divided state. For example compare King and Garfield counties. There are schools in King County with more students than all the residents of Garfield. What’s more I believe many of our 50 states are divided in similar ways. Unlike you, I have not cycled in eastern Washington. I have done so in rural Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Until such time that these divided states figure out how to ensure that rural areas are getting a fair share of their government’s resources, we cyclists will have to look for decent secondary and tertiary roads that have few motorists, but ones who pass with care.
When standards are low or non existent, even mediocrity floats to the top.